Tourism boom as more travellers visit Qatar

Three different recently-released reports by Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, Ernst and Young, and ValuStrat indicate that Qatar’s tourism industry is booming bringing more business for country’s hotel industry as well. The 40th Edition of Monthly Statistics Bulletin of the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics indicates a 27.4 percent year-on-year increase in number of visitors in April 2017 compared with same month of 2016.
In April this year, as many as 295,134 visitors arrived in Qatar while the number of visitors in April 2016 was 231, 629.
The official stats further indicate a whopping 47. 2 percent increase in number of visitors from GCC countries. As many as 144, 814 people from GCC countries visited Qatar in April 2017 while 98, 401 visitors had come to Qatar in April 2016 hence there is witnessed a 47.2 percent increase on YoY basis.
The report also shows that hotel (all categories) occupancy which was 64 percent in April last year reached 69 percent in April this year.
Another recently issued report of ValuStrat on Qatar’s real estate on first quarter of 2017 narrates a similar story based on figures. “During Q1 2017, the total number of tourist arrivals in Qatar reached above 864,000, a 5% YoY rise. This included an increase of tourists from the cruise season, running since October 2016,” the ValuStrat report says.
It adds: “GCC is the largest source of inbound travel followed by Asian and European countries. In January 2017, Qatar Tourism Authority launched Qatar’s first shopping festival, during which there was an increase of 16.8% in tourist arrivals led by Saudi nationals.”

17 more hotels this year

The report further points out that Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) granted licences to hold 75 exhibitions this year (2017), which will likely result in a boost to tourism.
“Qatar Tourism Authority has projected tourism receipt will reach QR30bn by 2022 and tourism sector’s total economic contribution will reach QR81.2bn by 2026 (based on the projected growth),” says ValuStrat report on Qatar’s real estate market.
It says that the total number of hotel rooms as of Q1 2017 in Qatar reached approximately 24,100 keys within 133 entities including two 5-star properties which were added this quarter; Centara Grand West Bay (357 hotel rooms) and Fraser Suites (396 hotel apartments).
“In the total stock, Qatar approximately 50% of hotel properties are 5-star followed by 4-star (37%) and 3-star (11%). As many as 17 new hotel properties are expected to debut during the remaining quarters of 2017, which will make the total stock at the end of the year to be approximately 27,500 keys, assuming no delays,” it adds.
The ValuStrat report says that Rotana announced two new hotels, Downtown Arjaan and Plaza Rayhaan to open by 2019, adding approximately 764 rooms to existing supply.
Another report of Ernst and Young (EY) says that hotel occupancy in Doha reached 74 percent in April this year from 65.6 percent in April 2016.